The intestinal barrier is particularly important in the context of maintaining health and the proper functioning of the body.
It protects against pathogens and harmful compounds from the outside. In addition, it enables the absorption of nutrients and actively takes part in digestion and metabolism.
It can be said that it protects and ensures proper cooperation between the digestive and immune systems. Unfortunately, when we are dealing with celiac disease, everything becomes more complicated, and rebuilding it is not simple.
Intestinal barrier
The intestinal barrier consists of many elements that work together to achieve / maintain balance and health. Its role is to selectively allow into the bloodstream only elements beneficial to health, such as properly broken-down nutrients, minerals, electrolytes, and strictly neutral, harmless compounds that support the body's functioning.
It also involves preventing harmful compounds from the external environment, pathogens, toxins, and various kinds of microorganisms that may disrupt the body's functioning from entering the body.
In short:
- the intestinal barrier largely performs a nutritional function because it enables the absorption of food components and nutrients,
- protects the body from elements that may disrupt its functioning and the course of vital processes,
- has an immune function (it is worth mentioning that the microbiota, that is intestinal bacterial flora, is one of the main elements making up the intestinal barrier).
It can safely be said that maintaining the continuity, proper permeability, and integrity of the said barrier is an absolute foundation if we care about health and, consequently, about improving quality of life.
Celiac disease
Celiac disease is one of the gluten-dependent diseases and at the same time one of the most common autoimmune diseases triggered by gluten. Making a definitive diagnosis is not easy and requires some effort, although once it is confirmed, it is clear what steps need to be taken.
Celiac disease is always induced by gluten consumption, and this factor is 100% the cause of the problem. Even so, it is quite difficult to cure and return the intestines to proper condition… Especially since many products are currently contaminated with gluten.
Apart from the increased risk of other diseases and a range of strictly intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in celiac disease, it is characterized by damage and then atrophy of the intestinal villi. This in turn, due to impaired absorption / assimilation, leads, among other things, to deficiencies of key nutrients.
Predisposition to celiac disease is to some extent genetically determined. The consumed gluten, which is a specific mixture of plant proteins (cereal proteins, mainly wheat proteins), passes through the aforementioned intestinal barrier and undergoes deamidation. As a result, significant damage to the mucosa occurs, which further leads to atrophy of the intestinal villi. Moreover, it causes damage to the intestinal barrier.
Celiac disease and the intestinal barrier
It is well known that celiac disease and other gluten-dependent diseases have a significant impact on the intestinal barrier, which is so important in the context of nutritional, digestive and immune functions. Especially since it is regarded as an element enabling cooperation between systems. The intestines are associated with the digestive tract and food absorption, although most of our immunity is located there.
What is important is that people dealing with the active, manifest form of celiac disease are characterized by a significantly reduced resistance of the intestinal barrier and increased permeability, especially for disaccharides. This is largely the effect of damaged tight junctions in the intestine. Interestingly, scientists emphasize that despite the increased permeability for disaccharides, reduced permeability for monosaccharides was noted. The difference was noticeable, so certain conclusions were drawn and possibilities began to be considered.
Researchers confirm that in patients on a gluten-free diet, over time the disparity in permeability decreased and, conversely, with increased consumption the disturbances intensified. When implementing a protocol appropriate for celiac disease, that is, eliminating the factor that induces the disease, a significant improvement in the intestinal barrier was observed over time.
A diet combined with lifestyle changes and proper supplementation may reduce celiac symptoms, lower the risk of possible complications or accompanying conditions, and also help maintain the integrity of the barrier.
How can you help yourself?
- introducing a strict gluten-free diet (even a small amount may worsen the condition in celiac disease),
- giving up stimulants (especially tobacco),
- introducing moderate physical activity,
- elimination / limitation of products containing harmful lectins,
- a good probiotic preparation (preferably with a large amount of bacteria from the Bifidobacterium group – a significant part of the population suffers from their deficiencies),
- colostrum or lactoferrin,
- sodium butyrate,
- taking care of digestive functions,
- supplementing possible deficiencies.
